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Ayuda Attorney Rebecca Walters Stops Helen’s Deportation

“Helen Pacheco, a former client of mine, recently wrote to you about her journey with Ayuda. I am honored that she refers to me as her “angel” and that we still share a special connection after all of these years. In truth, you surely would also have rushed to her side to offer help had you heard her story of courage, strength, and compassion firsthand.

It was my privilege, and Ayuda’s, to have been in the right place at the right time for Helen and her family, in order to provide them with the knowledge and support they needed to access the legal remedies that were available to them through our justice system.

I met Helen at her lowest point. She had just buried her husband. She and her two teenagers wore electronic ankle monitors, allowing ICE to monitor their movements at all times, including when the children were attending church or school. Her youngest child Christopher, a U.S. citizen toddler, was severely ill, due to complications resulting from his premature birth. Worst of all, in her hands was a final warning letter from ICE demanding that she and her children prepare for their imminent deportation to Honduras.

Helen’s already grim life could have gotten ten-times more unbearable if it weren’t for Ayuda.

Christopher was born twenty-one weeks premature after Helen suffered a violent assault during her pregnancy. He survived against all odds. Although at the time I first met Helen, he was still receiving frequent life-sustaining medical treatments from six different specialists. Despite being so young, a U.S. citizen, and a medical “miracle” according to his doctors, Christopher was about to be sent to Honduras along with Helen and his siblings, as he had no other parent or caregiver in the United States. Relocation to Honduras would have been a death sentence for Christopher given his medical needs, and the whole family feared violence from the notorious street gangs that had gained significant power there.

We had to work quickly as the family was on the verge of being deported. When I heard Helen’s story and learned that she was a domestic violence survivor, I assisted her in filing a U visa application, a legal remedy for victims of crime who cooperate with law enforcement. We filed an emergency stay of removal to stop the deportations, buying us some time while the visa application was pending. Eventually Helen’s U visa was approved, meaning that the whole family could stay, and providing Helen and her older children with a path to legal permanent residency.

Sometimes, I think about what could have happened if Helen had not walked into my office that day seven years ago, and if Ayuda had not had the availability and resources to take her case. I cannot help but think of the countless other families, just like Helen’s, who call our office, but who we do not currently have the capacity to serve due to resource constraints.

Helen has glowing praise for Ayuda. What’s more remarkable is Helen herself. She is a true force of nature. She is strong, determined, and one of the most spirited individuals I have ever met. Today, Helen is thriving as a fitness coach. She is encouraging others to practice healthy living, follow a healthy diet, and to exercise. She motivates many to live their best lives and it has been amazing to watch her helping and inspiring others. I have worked with Helen and her kids for a long time and it has been an inspiration and a privilege to be a part of their journey.

At Ayuda, we are currently able to waive our nominal consultation fee for survivors of domestic violence like Helen. Our donor contributions are what allows Ayuda to offer this lifeline to immigrants living under the gravest of circumstances and to represent other vulnerable families in their time of need. Their resilience, our specialized knowledge and experience, plus your support, is how we move mountains. This is how the justice of the American dream is realized; how cycles of violence and exploitation are broken, and how individual lives are rebuilt and transformed.”

Verizon Provides $50,000 to Kick Off Ayuda’s

45th Anniversary Celebration

Verizon General Counsel Craig Silliman to Accept Ayuda’s Hall of Fame Award in Recognition of the Company’s Long-Time Pro Bono Work and Support for Immigrants

Washington, D.C.

October 30, 2017

We are pleased to announce that Verizon is the presenting sponsor of Ayuda’s 45th anniversary celebration, taking place in May 2018 at the National Association of Home Builders in Washington, D.C. The event will celebrate immigrants’ lives and will call upon the broader community to stand with immigrants.

Verizon’s preeminent pro bono program is a cornerstone of Ayuda’s legal immigration services, helping in particular immigrant survivors of domestic violence. Ayuda is pleased to induct Verizon to its Hall of Fame in recognition of the countless hours of pro bono legal support that Verizon attorneys have provided for immigrants through our partnership.

“Verizon’s generosity with pro bono assistance has enabled Ayuda to be a lifeline for many low-income immigrants in Virginia who want to access justice, stop abuse and trauma, reunite with their families, and rebuild their lives. We are so delighted to be honoring Verizon for their phenomenal work in standing with immigrants,” says Paula Fitzerald, executive director.

Craig Silliman, Verizon executive vice president, public policy and general counsel, will accept the award on behalf of the company.

“Ayuda is an exceptional organization that provides vital services to our community,” said Silliman. “We have been privileged to work with Ayuda on innovative new clinics to serve immigrant survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking, and to find new ways to help immigrants address their legal challenges. We are proud to support Ayuda and we are certain the anniversary celebration will be extraordinary.”

With its $50,000 presenting sponsorship of Ayuda’s 45th anniversary celebration, Verizon has kicked off Ayuda’s event sponsorship campaign. The campaign seeks to raise a record $300,000 to help low-income immigrants residing in the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia. Proceeds will support Ayuda’s work in providing legal, social, and language access services. For more information on sponsorship opportunities, please contact Ayuda’s Giving Office at 202-552-3605.

About Verizon

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, Nasdaq:VZ), headquartered in New York City, has a diverse workforce of 163,400 and generated nearly $126 billion in 2016 revenues. Verizon operates America’s most reliable wireless network and the nation’s premier all-fiber network, and delivers integrated solutions to businesses worldwide. Its Oath subsidiary houses more than 50 media and technology brands that engage about 1 billion people around the world.

About Ayuda

Ayuda is a 501(c)(3) legal, social, and language access provider that helps vulnerable low-income immigrants in Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia stop abuses and improve their lives. With 44 years of experience and a highly motivated and skilled team, Ayuda secures justice and vital resources for immigrant individuals and families. As a national leader, Ayuda shares innovations that increase the capacity of providers and systems throughout the United States. Ayuda regularly fields inquiries from attorneys, advocates, and officials residing around the world who want to learn more about our relentless, dignified approach that helps immigrants save and rebuild their lives.

Ayuda has received many questions about the President Trump’s termination of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) on September 5, 2017. We are working to support the efforts of young immigrants who qualified for the now discontinued DACA program. It is crucial that immigrants who qualified for DACA get a screening for additional forms of relief through a reputable attorney or accredited representative.

The Trump Administration announced at 11:00 am this morning its decision to rescind the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) immigration program. A centerpiece of U.S. immigration policy under President Barack Obama, who started the program by Executive Order seven years ago, DACA permitted young immigrant “Dreamers” to stay in the United States to go to school and work without fear of deportation.

As of today, the Department of Homeland Security will no longer accept new DACA applications. Only those individuals with less than six months of status remaining will be permitted to continue to renew their work permits until October 5, 2017.

In the Washington, D.C. region, more than 40,000 Dreamers will be affected. For the majority of these Dreamers, the United States is the only home they’ve known.

We believe a policy decision to threaten Dreamers with deportation and prevent them from obtaining legal employment in the United States harms children and families, undermines our shared values as a nation, and threatens the strength of our communities and economy.

Immigrants turn to Ayuda in their greatest hour of need. In this uncertain time, you will find us where we must be: in trusted consultation with the immigrants whose lives are at stake, providing honest guidance, fearless representation, and holistic support. Our team of attorneys, social workers, language access program partners, and volunteers stand ready. We are under no illusion about the magnitude of the challenge facing young immigrants nor the potential threat it poses to their safety, stability, and livelihoods. It will take the entire Ayuda community coming together to ensure that immigrants do not walk this path alone.

As a member of the Ayuda community, you are, and will continue to be, a source of strength for Ayuda and for the immigrant families we serve.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Meet Sneaky Snake, the new face of a fraud prevention campaign, brought to you by Ayuda, a non-profit legal and social services organization serving low-income immigrants in the DMV area.
Ayuda has created this Sneaky Snake character to help consumers know the warning signs before they get bitten by costly fees they may not be able to recuperate, or worse, face deportation due to an ill-prepared case.

As members of the media, you are welcome to use these memes when reporting on related scams or via social media.

One example of immigration services fraud targets Spanish-speaking immigrants in schemes where fraudsters use the false cognate, “notario”, a Spanish term for an attorney in many countries, to mislead consumers into thinking that they are authorized to provide legal advice and services in the United States.

Other common scams affecting immigrants of all nationalities and languages include impersonators of federal government or immigration employees, as well as individuals who pretend to be licensed attorneys or so called “immigration consultants.” Fraudsters target immigrants to exploit their desire to adjust their status.

Anne Schaufele, Ayuda’s Project END Coordinator, explains, “We have identified over seventy-five businesses in the DC metropolitan area that provide immigration legal services without the proper law license or training, and we are concerned about those businesses with ill-intent. The results have been disastrous, and have included the separation of a father from his spouse and three, U.S. citizen children in one case, and the loss of over $50,000 in another. Prevention and enforcement is key.”
Please help us spread the memes, available in English and Spanish, with the six warning signs before the next fraudster bites!

See the text from the six memes here:
1. ALWAYS make sure that the person you hired is licensed to practice law in the U.S.NEVER hire a “notary public” to help you with your immigration case. A notary public is not an attorney in the United States

2. ALWAYS beware of anyone who asks you to pay before there is a way to applyNEVER pay someone who will not give you a receipt

3. ALWAYS make sure you understand what must be done in your case, and why, before you proceedNEVER sign anything that you don’t understand, or that’s left blank

4. ALWAYS get a copy of all applications in your caseNEVER leave behind your original documents

5. ALWAYS look for help if your representative threatens to harm you or your immigration case NEVER trust a representative who says they have a special connection in the government, because the government does NOT accept bribes or do favors

6. ALWAYS get a second opinion if you’re not sure about the advice you’ve been givenNEVER trust anyone who says that they can “guarantee” to win your case

If you encounter fraudulent legal representatives or government imposters, report them to Ayuda at (202) 552-3615. This information was brought to you by Ayuda’s Project END.

About Ayuda
Founded in 1973, Ayuda offers holistic legal, social, and interpretation services to low-income immigrants in the Washington metropolitan region.
Ayuda’s programs include legal and social services in the areas of immigration, anti-trafficking, domestic violence, sexual assault, and advocacy for immigrant children; language access services to free clients from language isolation; and Project END (Eradicating Notario Deceit) to assist immigrant victims of notario/legal services fraud.

Washington, D.C. – Ayuda is pleased to announce that its signature friend raiser—the Welcome Breakfast—will take place on Wednesday, September 20, 2017, from 8:00 am to 9:30 am, at Hamilton Live in downtown Washington.

Ayuda invites community members in the Washington metropolitan region to attend the Welcome Breakfast for an opportunity to experience Ayuda’s mission, hear client stories, interact with board members, staff, and current donors, and discover Ayuda’s life-changing community impact.

This year’s confirmed table hosts include Lori Faeth, former assistant secretary at the U.S. Department of Interior; Liz Hein, senior compliance counsel at HP, Inc.; Darla Bishop of AmeriHealth Caritas DC; Alex Dodds of Smart Growth America; and Mauro Morales of the U.S. Commission of Civil Rights. Ayuda is grateful to these community ambassadors and volunteers for their leadership.

Ayuda is recruiting up to 25 table hosts to assemble groups of four to ten guests at the event. To learn more about serving as a table host, please contact Arleen Ramirez Borysiewicz via email at arleen@ayuda.com or by phone at (202) 552-3605.

About Ayuda

Ayuda is a 501(c)(3) legal, social, and language access provider that helps vulnerable low-income immigrants in Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia stop abuses and improve their lives. With 44 years of experience and a highly motivated and skilled team, Ayuda secures justice and vital resources for immigrant individuals and families. As a national leader, Ayuda shares innovations that increase the capacity of providers and systems throughout the United States. Ayuda regularly fields inquiries from attorneys, advocates, and officials residing around the world who want to learn more about our relentless, dignified approach that helps immigrants save and rebuild their lives.

Washington, D.C. – The Morris & Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation announced a challenge grant of $5,000 to spur additional giving to Ayuda. Any donation to Ayuda, including a ticket purchase or sponsorship to attend Ayuda’s 44th Anniversary Celebration, can be used to match the challenge grant.

“We hope that this challenge grant spurs more giving to support Ayuda’s critical work,” says Debbi Lindenberg, program officer at the Cafritz Foundation.

“Ayuda is grateful to the Cafritz Foundation for its generous and longstanding support of our mission, and for this timely $5,000 challenge grant. Donors who rise to the challenge will join a remarkable community of leaders and residents from across the DMV. We thank the foundation for its vision and for valuing Ayuda’s work on behalf of low-income immigrants seeking justice,” says Paula Fitzgerald, executive director.

Ayuda’s 44th Anniversary Event will take place on May 16, 2017, at the Microsoft Innovation & Policy Center in downtown Washington, D.C. from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm. For more information, contact Sarah Block at (202) 387-4848 ext. 143 or at sarah@ayuda.com.

About Ayuda

Ayuda is a 501(c)(3) legal, social, and language access provider that helps vulnerable low-income immigrants in Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia stop abuses and improve their lives. With 44 years of experience and a highly motivated and skilled team, Ayuda secures justice and vital resources for immigrant individuals and families. As a national leader, Ayuda shares innovations that increase the capacity of providers and systems throughout the United States. Ayuda regularly fields inquiries from attorneys, advocates, and officials residing around the world who want to learn more about our relentless, dignified approach that helps immigrants save and rebuild their lives.

About the Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation

The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation is the largest private, independent, local foundation focused exclusively on the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. The Foundation is the legacy of Morris Cafritz, one of Washington’s leading commercial and residential builders from the early 1920s to the mid-60s. In the last 10 years, the foundation has awarded $185 million to more than 961 organizations in the areas of community services, arts and humanities, education, health and the environment. The Foundation is committed to improving the quality of life for residents of the Washington, DC area.

Congressman Jamie Raskin represents Maryland’s 8th District in the U.S. House of Representatives, where he is a Senior Whip for the Democratic Caucus, the Vice-Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee, and the Freshman representative to the Democratic Steering & Policy Committee. He also serves on the House Oversight & Government Reform Committee and the Committee on House Administration. Raskin has been a constitutional law professor at American University Washington College of Law for 25 years and prior to his time in Congress, he was a Maryland State Senator.

“As a Maryland state senator and now as a freshman house representative, Congressman Raskin has proven to be a staunch supporter of immigrants in Maryland and the nation. He champions sound immigration policy—and literally stands with the immigrant community in defense of their civil rights, as he did at Dulles Airport in January 2017. Ayuda is proud to recognize Jamie Raskin for his leadership and legislative impact,” says Paula Fitzgerald, executive director of Ayuda.

“I am honored to be recognized by Ayuda on the wonderful occasion of its 44th anniversary. Every day, Ayuda staff and volunteers wake up and go to work helping immigrants achieve basic opportunity and justice within their rights under law. At a time of a lot of chaos and fear, Ayuda offers a measure of certainty and hope to large numbers of people. It makes Maryland and our whole region stronger. On behalf of my District and our people, I will continue to advocate a core value of American democracy—that no refugee or immigrant should be denied entry to the United States because of religion or nationality—and to stand with immigrants who make our communities and nation stronger,” says Congressman Raskin.

Ayuda’s 44th Anniversary Event will take place at the Microsoft Innovation & Policy Center in downtown Washington, D.C. from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm. For more information, contact Sarah Block at (202) 387-4848 ext. 143 or at sarah@ayuda.com.

About Ayuda

Ayuda is a 501(c)(3) legal, social, and language access provider that helps vulnerable low-income immigrants in Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia stop abuses and improve their lives. With 44 years of experience and a highly motivated and skilled team, Ayuda secures justice and vital resources for immigrant individuals and families. As a national leader, Ayuda shares innovations that increase the capacity of providers and systems throughout the United States. Ayuda regularly fields inquiries from attorneys, advocates, and officials residing around the world who want to learn more about our relentless, dignified approach that helps immigrants save and rebuild their lives.

Washington, D.C. – Ayuda will commemorate its 44th anniversary on May 16, 2017 by celebrating inclusion, diversity, and the D.C., Maryland, and Virginia immigrant community. The event will take place at the Microsoft Innovation & Policy Center in downtown Washington, D.C. from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm.
Congressman Jamie Raskin (D-MD), Maryland State Delegate David Moon, D.C. Councilmembers David Grosso and Brianne Nadeau, and Takoma Park Councilmember Peter Kovar, among others, will be in attendance to celebrate the lives and accomplishments of immigrants in our community.
The event begins with A Conversation on Immigration moderated by C-SPAN’s Steve Scully. Confirmed panelists include: Paula Fitzgerald, executive director, Ayuda; Sandra Grossman, partner, Grossman Law, LLC; Lynden Melmed, partner, Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP; Julia Preston, former New York Times national immigration correspondent; Paul Wickham Schmidt, federal immigration court judge (retired); and J. Walter Tejada, former Arlington County Board chair.
“Every day, Ayuda stands with immigrants as they seek to exercise their rights and access justice. On the occasion of Ayuda’s 44th anniversary, we celebrate the lives of immigrants whose presence and many positive contributions make our region stronger,” says Paula Fitzgerald, executive director.

Ayuda will also honor Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer LLP and the DC Bar Foundation for their exceptional commitment to furthering Ayuda’s mission.
For more information, contact Sarah Block at (202) 387-4848 ext. 143 or at sarah@ayuda.com.

About Ayuda
Ayuda is a 501(c)(3) legal, social, and language access provider that helps vulnerable low-income immigrants in Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia stop abuses and improve their lives. With 44 years of experience and a highly motivated and skilled team, Ayuda secures justice and vital resources for immigrant individuals and families. As a national leader, Ayuda shares innovations that increase the capacity of providers and systems throughout the United States. Ayuda regularly fields inquiries from attorneys, advocates, and officials residing around the world who want to learn more about our relentless, dignified approach that helps immigrants save and rebuild their lives.